The L.A. Times music blog

Footage from Kanye West's unaired 'hip-hop Muppet show' leaks

Kanye West, television star? If the polarizing rapper had his way, he'd have added that to his mile-long resume, as seen in the footage from a failed attempt at a live-action puppet show.

West, along with pal and collaborator Rhymefest, pitched "Alligator Boots" back in 2008. The show would have featured absurdly dirty puppets in the vein of "Crank Yankers" doing "Saturday Night Live"-style sketches with celebrity hosts (West being the first) -- or as they put it, a "hip-hop Muppet show." In the footage that leaked online, West and company were filming portions of the would-be pilot.

Appropriately shot at the famous Jim Henson Studios in Hollywood, the leaked skits include a perverted Barry White-esque puppet singing a rather X-rated tune to Kim Kardashian (dressed as Princess Leia). There's also plenty of dirty gags, and even some puppet sex in the 10-minute behind-the-scenes video.

The show never got picked up, but West didn't seem to totally abandon the project, as he clearly revisited the electronic backbeat of the would-be theme song when it came time to craft his hit "Flashing Lights."

Check out the footage here, but fair warning: There is puppet nudity and dirty language.